Houston Beats Vegas for Most PassengersHouston Airport System March 1, 2011

George Bush Intercontinental Airport earned a new title as the seventh busiest airport in the United States.

This news comes from 2010 traffic data published by Airline Network News and Analysis (ANNA AERO).

By serving more than 40 million passengers, Houston’s largest commercial airport took over the number seven spot from McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. Bush Intercontinental Airport previously held the number eight slot for several years.

“Last year was filled with signs of positive momentum,” says Mario C. Diaz, the Houston Airport System’s director of aviation. “We welcomed new airlines, launched several new non-stop destinations and this new ranking represents yet another sign that exciting things are happening in Houston right now.”

One of the highlights of air traffic for Bush Intercontinental Airport is the steady growth of international passengers with a year-to-year increase of 8.9 percent.

The geographical area experiencing the highest increase in traffic last year: the Middle East and Canada, with traffic jumping 96.7 percent and 30.1 percent respectively.

Domestic traffic at Bush Intercontinental Airport held steady in 2010, dropping a modest 0.7 percent. The combined numbers mean that overall (domestic and international traffic), Bush Intercontinental recorded an increase of 1.2 percent, serviced an additional 472,215 passengers over 2009.

“One of the core goals for Houston Airports is to grow international travel options for the Greater Houston region," says Diaz."I believe that our gateway is ideal for connecting traffic to Latin America and as the biggest hub for the largest airline in the world, we expect to see even more passengers in 2011."